I don't know what to say about all the new building going on in downtown Bend and Redmond. It's fairly mind-boggling.

I do believe it will soon be very painful to some of these new owners, but an overall benefit to the downtown cores. At worst, they'll leave the 'beautiful corpse' of a storefront for the next guy. They apparently live in a parallel universe where money is no object. Another restaurant that spends 300k on renovations, a two story bookstore with coffee lounge, etc.

To me, it's like taking a Lexus to a Destruction Derby. But, hey, if they want to do it....

I'm calculating that we've got a year or two of new storefronts opening up, and we're all going to look so prosperous and, well, that's half the battle.

Would I do it if I were them? Hell, no. I'd find an existing location, just slightly off the beaten track that is turnkey....maybe. But I don't have to, right now, so I'm just watching all these wonderful new edifices with bemusement.
Let that rosy glow shine on me and my store. If you want to be crazy bastards, why should I stand in your way?

So for all you new businesses: I say go for it! I can pretend I'm one of you guys. You know, the kind of guys who spend the big bucks. I mean, I might be worried about sounding too cynical, but since you guys live in a parallel universe, you can't hear me anyway.

I really think you should do it!

Really! Never mind the naysayers, you have a dream!

Go, for it! Spend that money!